Red-necked Phalarope Photo Gallery
Breeding female
Small, dainty shorebird that sits high on the water, with a slender neck and very thin, sharp bill. Breeding birds are dark gray above with a rusty neck and a dark gray cap.
© Dorian Anderson | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 25, 2020Breeding male
Breeding males are less bright than females and tend to be more brownish gray above than dark gray.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 15, 2013Breeding female
Picks at the water's surface for zooplankton. Often feeds by spinning frantically in circles, drawing invertebrates up to the surface to eat.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryNorthwest Territories, June 01, 1997Not all videos have soundNonbreeding adult/immature
Small shorebird with a long, thin bill. Nonbreeders are white below with a gray back. Note the black ear patch.
© Dean LaTray | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, October 03, 2020Juvenile
Juvenile look similar to nonbreeding birds, but have buffy stripes on the back.
© Darryl Ryan | Macaulay LibraryOntario, September 08, 2019Juvenile
In flight, note the darker marks on the underwings when comparing with Red Phalarope in flight.
© Brian SullivanCalifornia, September 13, 2008Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Sandpipers and Allies(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Scolopacidae)
Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.